Library advocates to converge in Washington to protect libraries

Hundreds of library supporters from across the country will meet with their members of Congress from May 5–6, 2014, to advocate for library funding during the American Library Association’s 40th annual National Library Legislative Day.

Senator Angus King (I-ME) will jumpstart the event by addressing library advocates at the opening briefing, which takes place from 9:00 a.m.–4:15 p.m. on May 5, 2014, at the Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel in Washington, DC. Additional speakers include Maine State Librarian Linda Lord; Gabriel Rottman, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union; Shawn Daugherty, assistant director of SPARC; and Peter Jaszi, professor of law at the American University Washington College of Law.

National Library Legislative Day advocates will discuss the need to fund the Library Services and Technology Act, support legislation that gives people who use libraries access to federally-funded scholarly journal articles and continue funding that provides school libraries with needed funds for materials. Additionally, advocates will ask legislators to restore reasonable expectations of privacy by supporting the USA FREEDOM Act.

“Libraries depend on the federal funding they receive to help patrons learn new skills, complete homework assignments, find job opportunities and explore reading materials that they otherwise could not afford,” said Barbara Stripling, president of the American Library Association.